Moba Territory

Moba Territory
Moba Territory
Coordinates:
Country	Democratic Republic of Congo
District	Tanganyika
Area
• Total	28,000 km2 (11,000 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	500,000
• Density	18/km2 (46/sq mi)

Moba Territory is a territory in Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The administrative center is Moba port. The territory has an estimated area of 28,000 square kilometres (11,000 sq mi) and a population of almost 500,000.

Geography and climate

The west of the territory is bounded by Lake Tanganyika and the south by Zambia. To the north is Kalemie Territory and to the east Manono Territory and Pweto Territory. Rivers flowing through the territory include the Mulobozi River, Lufako River, Mulondi River, Lunangwa River and the Tshama River. Moba-Port has a tropical climate, with a dry season from June to August. Temperatures range from around 70 °C (158 °F) to 90 °C (194 °F), but may fall as low as 50 °C (122 °F) in June or July. Inland at and higher elevations the climate is cooler.

Subdivisions

The territory contains the following chiefdoms or sectors:

• Bena-Kamanya Sector
• Bena-Tanga Chiefdom
• Kansabala Chiefdom
• Kayabala Chiefdom
• Manda Chiefdom

Economy

Lake Tanganyika is of great importance as a source of fish. The land is rich is minerals. Gold is mined on a small scale, and copper, iron and diamonds have yet to be exploited. The soil is fertile. Crops include corn, beans,cassava, potato, wheat, rice, sweet potatoes, sorghum, coffee, Eleusine, onions, garlic, peas, peanut, tomato, banana, sugarcane, different types of fruit trees and palm oil. Road communications are poor. Few people have television and none have internet access.

Civil wars

The territory has been damaged by a series of rebellions and civil wars, the last being the Second Congo War (1998-2003). Since then the destroyed or damages villages are slowly being rebuilt. On 1 August 2007 a mob of demonstrators assaulted United Nations military observers and damaged offices belonging to the UNHCR and sister agencies. The United Nations withdrew from the town and ceased repatriation of refugees living in Zambia. After the situation stabilized and the UN was able to return, it was expected that the great majority of the 43,000 Congolese refugees who were still living in Zambian camps would return home to Moba territory.

Health and education

There are five secondary schools for the territory, specializing in biochemistry, fishing, business, and teaching. All schools are poorly equipped. Kirungu has a College of Rural Development.